RIPON, Wis. – The Macalester College volleyball team played in their second game of the 2026 season, losing in three straight contested sets to the Marian University Sabres, 10-25, 16-25 and 22-25 in a non-conference match on Friday night in the Ripon Tournament in Ripon, Wis. The first loss of the Scots season puts the new-look Macalester team at 1-1 on the season.
The Scots traded blow for blow with a 5-6 deficit to start the first set, with three kills from first year outside hitter
Channing Smith (River Forest, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) but started to see the set slip away as the Sabres scored 4 straight to make it 5-10. Mac went on to record one team service ace, and after a few errors by the Sabres, got within four (10-14) before closing out the set 10-25, losing 11 straight points.
Macalester came out blazing in the second set, with kills from sophomore middle blocker
Danielle Oji (Katy, Texas/Obra D. Tompkins) and with three straight attack errors from Marian, the Scots took a quick 6-1 lead. The Scots did not hold on for long, Marian going on a 6-1 run to make it an even 7-7 after 2 straight services aces against Macalester. Macalester fought hard through the rest of the set, with a few more kills by Oji, and a service ace by junior outside hitter
Adonia Anene (North Hollywood, Calif./The Buckley School), but it wasn't enough as they were outscored 9-18.
The Scots led by three in the middle of the third set, taking a 10-7 lead with kills by Anene, Smith and Oji. Despite their high hopes for a winning set, four straight points from Marian turned the Scots three-point lead turn into a one-point deficit. The Scots continued to fight with a few more kills from Oji, Smith to keep it 21-22, before losing the third set 22-25 after a few kills by Marian to end the Scots dreams of a reverse sweep.
Smith continued to show up in her first season with Macalester, matching Oji for the team lead with seven kills. Oji also led the team with attack percentage by hitting 0.375. Senior setter
Hannah Morrow (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) recorded a team leading 9 assists and led the team with eight digs.
Macalester will continue play in the Ripon (Wis.) Tournament this weekend. The Scots will play Lakeland University at 10:00 a.m. and the host Red Hawks at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
